This is why you need windows that open

Here are two pictures of my particular Bete Noir in the Midwest League...well, one of them...visiting radio booth at Modern Woodmen Park. Great view. Well, except for the condensation on the window...because it doesn't open.

It. Doesn't. Open.

Some pictures from last night

The power outage back home knocked WNAM off the air last night, so I covered the game in a live blog.

Plus, I got a chance to watch (and blog) an inning or so from the dugout.

Here are the pictures to prove it.

Below: You can see Nick Bucci and Jake Odorizzi charting the game.

Below is Del Howell in mid-delivery:

Below: Manager Jeff Isom and Strength and Conditioning coach Brian Melton take in the game.

 

Below: Michael Marseco talks over an at bat with teammates.

Just so you know

...this is what Modern Woodman Park has had to deal with in the last 45 minutes.

With all that being said...a picture worth a thousand words and all...they are expecting a big crowd for a fireworks night tonight. I expect them to make every effort to get the game in.

I was holding off on the usual afternoon posts , but I am just going to go ahead and put them up...so...here we go.

They didn't think this through, did they?

America's Stupidest Criminals should visit Cedar Rapids.

Teens went after pop, candy during ballpark break-in

Three teenagers have been arrested for breaking into consession stands at Veterans Memorial Stadium, police said.

Andrew N. Rosa-Aguilar, 19, Vincent J. Lambert, 19, and Anthony J. Rutherford, 18, all of Cedar Rapids, were found inside the stadium around 11 p.m. Tuesday. An employee spotted them in the ballpark and called police.

Once they were inside the concession stand, he young men broke into multiple cash registers, but found them empty, police said. Officers caught them collecting about $100 worth of candy and chips, and about $10 worth of water and pop, according to the police report.

They had to be stupid to think that the Kernels...or any baseball team for that matter...would just leave money in the till overnight.

Also, you can tell this headline is from an Iowa news source...They say 'pop'. Everyone knows that they were actually after 'soda'.

Compare & Contrast

Look. The Rattlers have had a lot...I mean a LOT... of tough losses this season. But, compare the Rattlers loss last night to the loss South Bend had at Quad Cities last night.

First, from the Rattlers game story:

Howell recorded another strikeout, his sixth of the game to set a professional high for a single game, to get Wisconsin to within one out of the win.

Then, Nommensen dropped a bunt up the third base line on the first pitch of his at bat and just beat the throw to first as Morrison scored [from third with] the tying run.

A similar circumstance led to the winning run in the tenth. Gabe Cohen singled and was sacrificed to second base with reliever Caleb Thielbar on the hill. Thielbar got the second out of the inning on a strikeout. Morrison sent a slow grounder to third. Cohen flashed in front of Dykstra and avoided being hit by the ball. Dykstra's throw to first was not in time to get the speedy Morrison. Cohen never stopped running and would score without a play.

Now, from the QC Times:

The River Bandits scored three runs in the bottom of the ninth after a pair of South Bend outfielders slipped on the outfield grass at Modern Woodmen Park, allowing Quad-Cities to savor a 7-6 Midwest League victory over the Silver Hawks.
...
Niko Vasquez drove home the game-winning run with a two-out double that eluded the grasp of South Bend left fielder Victor Estevez, who slipped face-first onto the turf to allow Jason Stidham to score the deciding run and complete a comeback that began with Quad-Cities trailing 6-1 midway through the sixth inning.

Stidham reached base in similar fashion in a ninth inning that opened with a walk to Edgar Lara.

But Quad-Cities was down to its last out when Ryan Jackson singled to center, moving Lara to second. Stidham followed by pounding a double to right.

Silver Hawks right fielder, Alberto Diaz, slipped as he attempted to chase the ball and tumbled to the turf as two runs scored.

Diaz had to be helped off the field before Vasquez added to South Bend's misery with his second hit of the game, an RBI that allowed Quad-Cities to maintain its one-game lead over Clinton for the second of two available Western Division first-half playoff spots.

Yeesh.

How to relax on a 13-day trip

Geocaching.

Geocaching?

Manager Jeff Isom, Strength Coach Brian Melton, and hitting coach Matt Erickson show off their find after a geocache hunt behind Perfect Game Field in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Not pictured here: Pitching coach Chris Hook, who was on the phone, but did take part in the hunt. You can see him wearing the red shirt in picture one and two.

Geocaching.

True Stories of the Midwest League

It's in Newsday so it can't be embellished.

In 1977, young outfielders Mickey Hatcher and Ron Roenicke arrived in Clinton, Iowa, home of the Dodgers’ Class A Midwest League affiliate. Their first game turned into a nail-biter, and when a late-inning situation called for a pinch hitter, Hatcher and Roenicke were stunned to see their manager, Dick McLaughlin, call out to a young man in the stands for help.

“I’m looking at Ron, saying, ‘They bring people out of the stands to hit in this league?’ ” Hatcher recalled on Tuesday. “This is unbelievable!”

That pinch hitter, it turned out, was Mike Scioscia. The catcher felt under the weather that day, and McLaughlin, not wanting to get his other players sick, ordered Scioscia out of the dugout -- until he needed him late, at least.

Scioscia and Hatcher proceeded to become roommates and great friends, and both played for the 1988 Dodgers, the last Dodgers team to win the World Series. They have been together for 10 years now with the Angels...

The story doesn't say if Scioscia got a hit in Clinton that night, but it does go on to make a pretty interesting read.

Peoria played on MTV

MTV? What's that? The Chiefs know.

Members of the Peoria Chiefs staff will be featured on Thursday's episode of Pranked on MTV (9:30 Central). The prank to air is a retaliation prank cooked up by the sales staff against the promotion/production staff and it took place in August.

Original prank by the interns:

Revenge of the sales staff

Three things:

1.) Hyperbole, much?
2.) The multiple angle replays are pretty awesome.
3.) So, you want to be in minor league baseball?

A few wrapup articles from around the MWL

Some of it is on field. Some of it is off field.

Dayton

Individual talent was there at Fifth Third Field

By the end of the season, the Dragons had some players to watch if not a team to win.

“You really can’t judge the success of a team until two, three years down the road,” Dragons manager Todd Benzinger said as Dayton failed to make the Midwest League playoffs for the fifth time in 10 seasons.

“When the season began, I was informed shortstop Miguel Rojas was going to be our prospect. He not only lived up to expectations, he exceeded them. He hit 50 points higher than anyone thought.”

After running through a list of Dragons who did well in '09, there is this...

It was all watched by more than a half-million fans, who kept the team in the top 10 of all Minor League Baseball teams for the 10th consecutive season.

Quad Cities

Bandits draw crowds despite losing season

There's an old adage among operators of minor-league baseball teams that what happens on the field has little relevance to what happens off it.

That sentiment held true this season at Modern Woodmen Park, where the Quad-Cities River Bandits experienced continued attendance growth despite the club's worst record since 2003.

Manager Steve Dillard's team finished a 61-78 season Monday at Kane County, a record helped by wins in six of the team's final eight games. By then, inconsistency already had assured Quad-Cities that it would miss the playoffs in consecutive seasons for just the second time in the last 15 years.

West Michigan

Economy blamed as Whitecaps finish with second lowest season attendance in franchise's 16 years

A slow economy and a cooler-than-usual summer didn't stop some fans in West Michigan from supporting their minor league baseball team.

The West Michigan Whitecaps closed out the regular season Monday afternoon, as a holiday crowd of 6,005 witnessed a 3-1 loss to the Fort Wayne Wizards.

The Whitecaps (81-59 overall) attracted a total of 356,637 fans to Fifth Third Ballpark this season -- an average of 5,245 for 68 home dates, good for fifth overall in the Midwest League.

And while their attendance numbers were down slightly from last season, Whitecaps vice president Jim Jarecki viewed it as a success in a turbulent economy.

"We're very enthusiastic about the attendance this season, and we can't thank the fans enough, especially with the economic times that we're having," Jarecki said. "I said before that the things that have prospered in economic times have been ballparks and movie theaters.

"And I think the fans came out again and supported us, and hopefully we supported them by giving them a great product on and off the field."

The final tally was the second-lowest in the franchise's 16-year history, narrowly eclipsing the 2006 season total of 356,155.

Fort Wayne

Is Parkview Field a downtown catalyst?
Too soon to tell - TinCaps attendance is promising, but is it sustainable?

In their first season downtown, the Fort Wayne TinCaps far surpassed the largest attendance the team pulled when it was the Wizards playing at Memorial Stadium on Coliseum Boulevard. Some restaurants near Parkview Field say they're seeing more business on game days. And the presence of the team and Parkview Field downtown are clearly drawing thousands of visitors from outside Allen County.

However, it's too soon to say whether the baseball stadium is a catalyst that ignites and supports a broader revival in the heart of Fort Wayne, or a novelty that will lose its draw. It may be years before tax receipts, property values, occupancy rates and other objective measures reveal how well the city's gamble on Parkview Field pays off.

“We have a lot of good anecdotal evidence, and I don't want to ignore that, because it's important,” said Rich Davis, president of the Downtown Improvement District. Through their presence, he said, the TinCaps and the new stadium have drawn “upwards of 400,000 people” downtown and given them a “mind-opening experience” of entertainment available there.

Clinton
L’Kings consider season a success

Yes, the LumberKings missed the Midwest League playoffs for just the second time in the franchise’s past seven seasons. And yes, that ranks as a major disappointment for fans, players, coaches and the front office.

But no, that did not define Clinton’s season.

“It was a good year,” LumberKings general manager Ted Tornow said. “It wasn’t a great year. It wasn’t the worst year we’ve had. It wasn’t the best year we’ve had. It was right up near the top. It was a very good year.”

In its first season as the Seattle Mariners’ low Class A affiliate, Clinton boasted the league’s top pitching staff and individual ERA champ. The LumberKings overcame promotions and a major trade to contend for the postseason until each half’s final week. Clinton hosted the Midwest League All-Star game for a fourth time.

There’s more to the story than failed playoff races.

“Making the playoffs, it’s something we would have loved to do,” Mariners special assistant to the GM John Boles said. “It didn’t happen. But that doesn’t detract from what took place this summer.”

A lot more...and I do mean a lot more at that last link about the LumberKings.

Do we call this a Three-Shirt if the Rattlers win tonight?

More of a candid shot of Rattler Pitching Coach Chris Hook's shirt of the day. It's not just the orange tint and the stylized cross that makes the outfit. The Golf/Driving Cap is the best part.

Click for the larger version of the latest Hook-A-Tee.

Guaran-Tee-d winning streak*

I did not think it was possible. Chris Hook actually found a T-shirt that may be more powerful than the one that got the Rattlers a 10-run, 15-hit game last night.

If you did not hear the story on the broadcast last night, Rattlers pitching coach Chris Hook wore a T-shirt yesterday that was hilariously tacky. I seem to remember snakes and lightning bolts, and various other squiggly lines. It was capped off with the phrase Ring of Fire on the back.

Look out, Midwest League. Are you ready for this one?


Two things put this over the top of your normal snake through a skull with swords design.

1. The growling black panther off on the left. You can just catch the star in its eye socket.
2. The fact that it already has the sleeves cutoff.
   

I am also pointing out that this still meets the dress code requirement since there is a collared shirt under the T-Shirt.

If you do nothing else today, make sure to click on the picture for a larger image.

*-May not guarantee a winning streak since we did not take the same route to the game today that we did last night.

What's next?

That question is in regards to What's next to cause a delay or postponement in a game between the Timber Rattlers and the Kernels?

Tonight was the ninth meeting of the season.

The laundry list:

May 12: Rain forces postponement

June 4: Ron 'Roady' Plein breaks an ankle. 20 minute delay

August 11: Bank of lights go out. 1:19 minute delay.

There are 10 games left in the season series.

My money is going to be split between locusts and this...



Either one would be cool.

Back in the morning.

An epidemic of shaving cream

In the words of the poet...What was the deal yesterday?

From the Cedar Rapids Gazette story of yesterday's doubleheader...which featured free admission to the day game...which was pretty cool by the way...

The towel full of shaving cream to the face caught him offguard.

“Got some in my mouth, too,” Cedar Rapids Kernels third baseman Jon Townsend said. “Actually got a lot in my mouth. That was bad.”

It’s a baseball thing. Sometimes a guy goes in front of a television camera for a postgame interview, a teammate sneaks up behind him and whammo.

The good thing is it means the guy creamed did something outstanding.

From the Midland Daily News story on the Loooooons game:

Shaving cream pies in the face are normally reserved for players, but the Great Lakes Loons made an exception for manager Juan Bustabad Saturday night after he earned his 600th career win with a 10-2 victory over the West Michigan Whitecaps.

“The players want to have fun and I want to have fun,” said Bustabad as he wiped shaving cream out of his hair and face. “It’s been a good chemistry on this team. I owe (the win total) to the players I’ve had over the years and the hard work and devotion they’ve put in.

So it wasn't just me...

Just found this post at a blog called Core Contrarian through a Timber Rattlers Google alert. It confirms my thoughts that yesterday's game was a weird game. The proof...

1. The first batter of the game gets on base. The field umpire then takes his position on the infield grass which is the correct positioning for him with a runner on first base. The next batter hits a very hard shot which hits the field umpire in the......

2. A Lugnut player hits a very long high fly to left field which easily clears the fence but it is foul by about 3 or 4 feet. Kind of close but not really if you were watching it. The home plate umpire calls it a home run.

3. The Timber Rattlers have a runner on third base. I forget how many outs but it is not really important. The Lugnuts pitcher and the catcher get their signs crossed up and the pitcher throws a high slow lob for an intentional walk but the catcher never leaves his crouch so the ball went to the wall and the runner on third easily scores.

4. In the row behind the Timber Rattlers pen, there were a few teenagers who were insulting the players and then asking for baseballs. In my opinion, this is not a good strategy to get a ball but that is just me. I accompanied Skate Kid over there and advised him that we would sit in the first row but a good ways away from the teenagers. After a while, a young lady approached the bullpen and asked one of the players for a ball and he gave her one. She then gave it to Skate Kid and advised that she had a "special connection" to this player (I will keep him nameless) and she wanted Skate Kid to have a ball.

Those are the highlights. Go read the whole post to see what I left out.

A little from around the Midwest League

From the Clinton Herald

Minor leaguers balance development, winning

The minor-league baseball player performs a unique balancing act.

On one hand, he wants his team to win. He does whatever it takes for the team to achieve a winning record, a playoff spot, a league championship — similar to every other level at which he has played.

On the other hand, though, he also carries a personal agenda.

...

Some organizations, like Seattle, Clinton's parent club, believe winning plays an important role in player development.

“I'm 100-percent positive they go hand-in-hand,” said John Boles, Mariners special assistant to the general manager. “I've never seen a player develop as well as he possibly can develop if he goes in every day and the team is just getting shellacked.

“You want these guys to be in a winning environment because that's the building blocks to playing in the playoffs at the major-league level.”

From the Fort Wayne Journal-Sentinel there is this headline:

Attendance at ballpark projected to meet goal

and this sub-headline to the same story

Pace must pick up for revenue to satisfy city

Halfway through the inaugural TinCaps season, fans have flocked to Parkview Field, but more paying fans will be needed to ensure additional tax dollars aren’t needed for the city-owned stadium.

Attendance for baseball is up, and numerous other events have also been held at the new downtown ballpark.

Paid attendance, however, is less than half what is needed to meet the city’s financial obligation to maintain the stadium. City and team officials are confident that total will improve to keep additional tax money from being needed for baseball repairs.

Do people just not understand baseball seasons? See in April and May, weather and school tends to keep the crowds down a bit. In July and August, oh, heck, here's a guy who knows what he's talking about when it comes to this...

Mike Nutter, team president, said he was pleased with attendance for the first half of the year. Summer vacation and warmer weather historically have led to larger crowds in July and August than in April and May, he said.

“It’s just starting to ramp up,” he said.

This proved true in the first homestand after the break. The TinCaps drew more than 24,000 paying fans for the team’s four-game series with South Bend. Last year, the TinCaps – then known as the Wizards – drew 104,173 fans in their first 34 games (one was rained out). Over the entire season, the team drew 256,693 people.

Go figure.

From the Cedar Rapids Gazette here's a heck of an idea:

Nate Kaeding gets a kick out of Kernels

Sixteen balls left the park at Perfect Game Field Sunday while the Kernels took on the Quad Cities River Bandits.

None were home runs.

Former Iowa and current San Diego Chargers kicker Nate Kaeding provided between-inning entertainment, booting 16 autographed footballs into the stands as part of Iowa City-Coralville Day festivities.

“It will be fun for the kids that get to go out on the field,” Kaeding said just prior to taking to the field before the fourth inning. “Hopefully they don’t pull a Charlie Brown on me and pull the ball off the tee.

“I just hope I don’t shank any.”

After spending the first three innings of the games signing autographs, Kaeding spent a few moments warming up and stretching before heading to the field.

He didn’t end up shanking any kicks and even took on the duty of holder for one of the kids to attempt a kick.

Where have I heard this idea before?

Road stories (Quad Cities)

This is the fourth different team hotel for the River Bandits since I've been covering the team. (NOTE: Each one gets farther away from the ballpark with fewer and fewer places to eat, but that's a different story.) I really wish my camera still took decent pictures because I would have a beauty for you.

No, not the art on the wall. Those are still the same. The view out the hotel window is the same, too.

I would have a shot of the ashtray and the book of matches that is sitting on the tray with the ice bucket and plastic glasses.

This may be one of the last hotels with a smoking room in the league. It's a good thing I have a three-pack-a-day habit.

Scenes from the Road -- Clinton, Iowa (UPDATED)

Here is the actual song list played over the PA system at Alliant Energy Field from right before the pre-game show last night.









And apparently, Travis Tritt wants all of the embedding codes for Where Corn Don't Grow removed.

Life on the road in the MWL.

ADDED: The Kid had a question in the comments about at bat music. I think when I get back, I should put together a post about everyone's at bat music.

Also in the comments, Deedub chimed in with a little love for Charlie Rich. That kind of comment always reminds me of that one scene from Super Troopers. You know the one...

Farva: Let me tell you another funny story, New Jack. Back in '74 the great Charlie Rich was named country musician of the year. Then, in '75 he had to hand the award off to the new winner. And you know who that was? Mr. Sunshine on my GD shoulders, John Denver.

Rabbit: Really?

Farva: Can you believe it? Replaced by John F-N Denver...

Rabbit: Amazing.

Farva: Well I'll be dammed if Mr. Rich didn't pull out his cigarrete lighter right there and light that award on fire in front of everyone.

The cost of a fine

Marc Katz of the Dayton Daily News revisits the brawl between Dayton and Peoria from a different perspective. How did the paying the fines impact the Dayton players?

Paying off fines of $150 to $200 — as several of the Dayton Dragons have been asked to do following their July 24 brawl with Peoria — seems like a small amount of money.

It isn't if you're playing low Class A baseball.

While the major league minimum salary is nudging close to $400,000 and the average salary has climbed north of $3 million, the parent Reds are paying first-year Dragons about $1,200 a month — before taxes.
...
Jeremy Horst — one of the Dragons suspended for three days and fined as well — conserves.

"I have a car, but I live downtown with a host family that won't take any money," Horst said. "I don't have to buy that much gas, although I do have car insurance and a cell phone."

He also has certain meals to buy (the Dragons provide a post-game home meal and road meal money is $20 a day). Horst has a fiancee at home in Green Bay, Wis., and since April, the couple's first child, a girl.

It's a good thing...

...that I set about four or five alarms to wake up on a day with a day game. Because if I was counting on that 8:15am wake-up call from the hotel to make sure that I made the bus. Well, I might still be asleep.

Welcome to Clinton

Actual first words heard upon arriving at Alliant Energy Field today.

"Yeah, we vacuumed the visiting radio booth. So, all the dead flies should be out of there."

Why was I thinking of that one scene from The Amityville Horror?